The story of Azeem Ibrahim, the Maryhill millionaire, reads like the rags-to-riches fable of the American Dream that is all too rarely a reality in his adopted home of the US or his native Scotland.
The story of Azeem Ibrahim, the Maryhill millionaire, reads like the rags-to-riches fable of the American Dream that is all too rarely a reality in his adopted home of the US or his native Scotland.
He is the fourth child of Mohammed and Khurshida Ibrahim, who had a grocer's shop on Maryhill Road in Glasgow, and he grew up as a "quiet, shy boy" who worked behind the counter after school. Between customers he passed the time reading newspapers, including the business pages, and learned about the City and the markets.
He was in his mid-teens when a supermarket opened near his father's shop, leading to bankruptcy for the business. The family had to leave their home in Garnethill and move into a council house in Anderston, but Azeem's own ambition was undented.
By fifth year at Hillhead High he was dabbling in investments and before he left school he spotted a money-making opportunity in the privatisation of Railtrack and made £2000 for himself.
After school he moved to London to work in IT. He set up his first business with a friend he met at work and by the end of the 1990s he was in commodities, selling cobalt and zinc to the Middle East and China.
With his partner he then created an online insurance company targeting the maritime market. It was a huge success and Mr Ibrahim became seriously wealthy.
His next move, while still in his 20s, was to open the European Commerce and Mercantile bank. Valued at over $100m by independent auditors, the bank has offices in Sweden and Dubai.
Now a US and British citizen, the 32-year-old lives on the shores of Lake Michigan with his paediatrician wife and baby daughter.
Commenting on his appointment to the Social Mobility Commission, Mr Ibrahim said: "I regard this appointment as a great privilege and am delighted to be given this opportunity to make this contribution to my country."
